Final answer:
A malicious program that exploits vulnerabilities to spread across networks is known as a worm. Hackers utilize such programs, along with a range of other tactics, to compromise systems, conduct surveillance, steal data, and disrupt operations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Worms are members of several invertebrate phyla, including Platyhelminthes (flatworms), Annelida (segmented worms), Nemertea (ribbon worms), Nematoda (roundworms, pinworms, etc.), Sipuncula (peanut worms), Echiura (spoon Bworms), Acanthocephala (spiny-headed worms), Pogonophora (beard worms), and Chaetognatha (arrowworms). A malicious program designed to exploit a vulnerability in an application or an operating system to enter a computer and subsequently spread to other devices on the network is known as a worm. Unlike viruses, worms do not require human action to replicate and spread, and they can cause harm by consuming bandwidth or conducting harmful activities without the user's consent.
Cybersecurity measures are crucial to protect against such threats. Hackers utilize various tactics, including inducing individuals to click on dangerous links or coercing them into revealing sensitive information. Modern technology allows for the remote activation of smartphones' microphones and cameras, turning them into surveillance devices without the user's awareness. Moreover, governments and militant groups have weaponized cyberspace, using hacking to steal intelligence, interrupt communications, sabotage networks, and spread disinformation.